MONROE - The Monroe football team's scouting report going into the season opener was focused on shutting down Mount Horeb-Barneveld wide receiver Isaiah Lesure.
Monroe showed flashes throughout the game and bottled up Lesure most of the game in a 34-6 season opening loss to the Vikings Friday, Aug. 23. Lesure, a 6-foot, 2 inch senior, had three receptions for 84 yards including a 64-yard TD catch in the first half to spark the Vikings. However, in the second half, Mount Horeb-Barneveld junior running back Wyatt Thompson rushed for 115 of his 141 yards and scored two touchdowns to propel the Vikings who scored 34 consecutive points.
The Vikings graduated 20 players who received all-conference recognition last year and the Cheesemakers shut them down early on before they rolled in the second half.
"We didn't know what they would have in the backfield," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "We focused to stop Isaiah Lesure and take away the big play. Outside of that 64-yard touchdown we kept him in front of us. There are some things we did well. We just weren't ready to play at game speed for four quarters."
Monroe senior Charlie Kind had two interceptions. Kind's first interception in the first quarter set up the Cheesemakers' lone scoring drive. Monroe junior Cody Wolf took advantage of some key blocks and bolted for a 23-yard TD run to the outside to give the Cheesemakers a 6-0 lead.
"It felt really good," Wolf said. "They blocked the extra point and that kind of gave them some momentum. We just couldn't get down there again."
The Vikings answered with sophomore quarterback Max Meylor tossing a 64-yard TD pass to Lesure with 5:18 left in the first quarter to give the Vikings a 7-6 lead. Mount Horeb-Barneveld cashed in on a eight-play, 55-yard drive culminating in Justin Gorman's 10-yard TD run that gave the Vikings a 13-6 lead after Ryan Hughes blocked the extra point.
The Cheesemakers won the turnover battle three to one. Wolf rushed for 61 yards on 13 carries, scored one touchdown and had two sacks on defense.
Meylor helped fuel a big finish to the first half when he threw a 4-yard TD pass to Nathaniel Osterloo with just several seconds left in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 20-6 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers were plagued by penalties. Monroe committed eight penalties for 75 yards and three Cheesemaker quarterbacks including Jake Flannery, sophomore Garrett Gogin and sophomore Jaron Kuester, playing in their first varsity game, combined didn't complete a pass and finished 0 of 10.
"It's just the little things," Wolf said. "We have to remember the count and get off the ball faster."
Miller is confident the Cheesemakers will be able to fine-tune their passing game after a sputtering start.
"All three of them have a lot to learn about varsity football," Miller said. "They are all working extremely hard. They will only get better."
In the second half, the Vikings got their running game rolling. Thompson rumbled for a 63-yard TD run midway through the third quarter to give the Vikings a 27-6 lead. Every one of Thompson's carries in the second half except one went for 10 yards or more.
"We got tired," Miller said. "There was no question about that. I know Wyatt Thompson from track and he's a tough kid. When you are forced on Lesure it's tough to spread yourself out to everyone because they have so many weapons."
Monroe senior tight end Noah Thompson suffered a knee injury in the first half and he didn't return. Miller said Thompson probably had a knee sprain.
"At the end of the game he and our training staff were optimistic about the extent of the injury," Miller said. "I think he will be fine."
Monroe showed flashes throughout the game and bottled up Lesure most of the game in a 34-6 season opening loss to the Vikings Friday, Aug. 23. Lesure, a 6-foot, 2 inch senior, had three receptions for 84 yards including a 64-yard TD catch in the first half to spark the Vikings. However, in the second half, Mount Horeb-Barneveld junior running back Wyatt Thompson rushed for 115 of his 141 yards and scored two touchdowns to propel the Vikings who scored 34 consecutive points.
The Vikings graduated 20 players who received all-conference recognition last year and the Cheesemakers shut them down early on before they rolled in the second half.
"We didn't know what they would have in the backfield," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "We focused to stop Isaiah Lesure and take away the big play. Outside of that 64-yard touchdown we kept him in front of us. There are some things we did well. We just weren't ready to play at game speed for four quarters."
Monroe senior Charlie Kind had two interceptions. Kind's first interception in the first quarter set up the Cheesemakers' lone scoring drive. Monroe junior Cody Wolf took advantage of some key blocks and bolted for a 23-yard TD run to the outside to give the Cheesemakers a 6-0 lead.
"It felt really good," Wolf said. "They blocked the extra point and that kind of gave them some momentum. We just couldn't get down there again."
The Vikings answered with sophomore quarterback Max Meylor tossing a 64-yard TD pass to Lesure with 5:18 left in the first quarter to give the Vikings a 7-6 lead. Mount Horeb-Barneveld cashed in on a eight-play, 55-yard drive culminating in Justin Gorman's 10-yard TD run that gave the Vikings a 13-6 lead after Ryan Hughes blocked the extra point.
The Cheesemakers won the turnover battle three to one. Wolf rushed for 61 yards on 13 carries, scored one touchdown and had two sacks on defense.
Meylor helped fuel a big finish to the first half when he threw a 4-yard TD pass to Nathaniel Osterloo with just several seconds left in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 20-6 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers were plagued by penalties. Monroe committed eight penalties for 75 yards and three Cheesemaker quarterbacks including Jake Flannery, sophomore Garrett Gogin and sophomore Jaron Kuester, playing in their first varsity game, combined didn't complete a pass and finished 0 of 10.
"It's just the little things," Wolf said. "We have to remember the count and get off the ball faster."
Miller is confident the Cheesemakers will be able to fine-tune their passing game after a sputtering start.
"All three of them have a lot to learn about varsity football," Miller said. "They are all working extremely hard. They will only get better."
In the second half, the Vikings got their running game rolling. Thompson rumbled for a 63-yard TD run midway through the third quarter to give the Vikings a 27-6 lead. Every one of Thompson's carries in the second half except one went for 10 yards or more.
"We got tired," Miller said. "There was no question about that. I know Wyatt Thompson from track and he's a tough kid. When you are forced on Lesure it's tough to spread yourself out to everyone because they have so many weapons."
Monroe senior tight end Noah Thompson suffered a knee injury in the first half and he didn't return. Miller said Thompson probably had a knee sprain.
"At the end of the game he and our training staff were optimistic about the extent of the injury," Miller said. "I think he will be fine."
